All posts by Hearts & Homes for Youth

Ready, Set, Back to School!

Activities for the youth

Earlier this week, Hearts & Homes for Youth hosted our annual Back to School Picnic for youth and the Hearts & Homes family to kick off the school year! Once again, Social & Scientific Systems provided Hearts & Homes with top quality new backpacks for our kids, filled with school supplies. For years, Social & Scientific Systems have provided the youth of Hearts & Homes with the tools they need to start the school year well prepared.

Held shortly before school starts, the picnic is a chance for the youth to meet each other and all the staff at Hearts & Homes, get school supplies for the new school year, and enjoy the outdoors.

This great event is hosted by Hearts & Homes Senior Counselors with support from Group Home Program Managers. The Senior Counselors led the fun and welcoming celebration, full of games, sports, activities, and smiles!

 

The First Annual Kings of Style Party!

Activities for the youth

11880376_10153612173622112_8141458474374216998_nHearts & Homes for Youth’s 1st annual Kings of Style party was a great event thanks to our incredible supporters and our incredible young men! On Friday, over 50 young men from our group homes and shelters, and from our sister organizations, came to the Kings of Style party and saw some of the many people who believe in and are invested in their success.

We are grateful to Prince George’s County Clerk of the Circuit Court Sydney Harrison, our dedicated friends from the U.S. Marine Corps at Fort Meade, Markita Bryant, Telly Lovelace from Governor Larry Hogan’s office, Katrina Owens from Congresswoman Donna Edwards office, City of Laurel Mayor Craig Moe, our former CEO Rex Smith, City Council Member Fred Smalls, our supporters from the Laurel Boys and Girls Club, and many more!

We are grateful for the support from Prince George’s County Clerk of the Circuit Court Sydney Harrison! He shared his story of success with our young men and encouraged them to embrace the positive in life and believe in themselves! He also gave up his own belt to one of our young men. It was very impactful for our youth to have someone from the court there to give them hope and encouragement. He told them “you can overcome anything…each of your has something special…life should be your inspiration.” He encouraged them to learn to trust and love: “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

 

Simply the Best Painting Company paints Shelter

Thank you to our supporters

default_stbpainting_nimva_logo_270x97pxToday Simply the Best Painting Company combined painting with philanthropy by donating their expertise and supplies to paint one of Hearts & Homes for Youth’s shelters for vulnerable youth.

The project at Hearts & Homes for Youth’s Helen Smith Residential Group included painting the trim throughout the house, the ceiling, two stairways, and all the radiators!

As the name suggests, the group was Simply the Best and completed the project in a half a day!

“The company wanted to give back to the community and chose to donate their services to Hearts & Homes for Youth,” said Hearts & Homes President and CEO Chloe Perez. “It is critically important that the youth in our care who have experienced abuse, neglect, homelessness, or another form of trauma, live in a safe and beautiful environment where they can develop their sense of self-confidence and self-worth. We are grateful for this gift from Rob Garretson and his team from Simply the Best Painting Company.”

“We did our small part to help make a difference in these kids’ lives,” said Simply the Best Painting Company CEO Robert Garretson, “we love giving back to the community and we are invested in the welfare of these kids.

Hearts & Homes for Youth is grateful to Simply the Best Painting Company for donating their time and exceptional painting services! This project was a great experience from start to finish. Simply the Best is very professional and delightful to work with. The planning process was great, they helped us pick the right paint for the house, and the project was well planned. The painting is exceptional, they did great work and very quick and CLEAN. Rob Garretson was a great communicator and kept us posted on every step of the way. Great work!

“Sellebrities” born from Camp Old Navy

Activities for the youth

Our youth had a great time yesterday at Camp Old Navy! Camp Old Navy is a partnership between Gap Inc. (Old Navy’s parent company) and local youth development programs. The program brings teens into Old Navy stores for a half-day job shadow experience that helps them develop job readiness skills and explore career opportunities.

The youth had a great day learning the ins and outs of retail work, experiencing firsthand what it’s like to work in retail, trying out new experiences like searching for merchandise using  a retail computer system, and learning how to work a cash register to make transactions, all in a supportive, educational environment.

One of the great lessons taught during the day was when the manager taught our youth how to use the cash register. She gave them a real life scenario, pretending to be a difficult customer while Old Navy staff provided guidance to our youth on how to peacefully and professionally deal with the situation.

Camp Old Navy Teaches Job Readiness!

Activities for the youth, In the community

campoldnavy-smToday 16 teens from Hearts & Homes for Youth will participate in Camp Old Navy where they will shadow their “sellebrities” and develop the skills necessary for job readiness. The Camp is a great opportunity to learn about the workforce, develop professional skills, and possibly be recruited!

Camp Old Navy is a partnership between Gap Inc. (Old Navy’s parent company) and local youth development programs. The program brings teens into Old Navy stores for a half-day job shadow experience that helps them develop job readiness skills and explore career opportunities. The teens get to experience firsthand what it’s like to work in retail and to try out new experiences like searching for merchandise using  a retail computer system and learning how to work a cash register to make transactions, all in a supportive, educational environment.

Youth from 3 of our programs will spend the day learning the ins and outs of the popular retail chain at an Old Navy store in Laurel today. They will learn about what it’s like to have a job in apparel retail and experience hands-on training in retail management, sales and merchandising, working the sales floor alongside actual employees. Just like regular employees, the teens will be expected to learn the specifics of how “their” store worked and was laid out, as well as learn a little about what the company expects from its employees and how it wants its stores run.

Our youth will have the opportunity to work the cash registers, run the fitting rooms and “RAD” the store. They will also learn about loss prevention and the customer service values of the company.

Camp Old Navy’s purpose is to offer young people job readiness, helping teens prepare for entering the work force. Old Navy staff wants teens to walk away from this experience knowing that working at Old Navy can be a lot of fun. It can be a great first job opportunity that the youth can turn into a career.

Suit up and get involved!

Activities for the youth, Volunteering

SidneyHarrisonPhotoOp1It’s not too late to donate or sign up to volunteer at Kings of Style is on Friday, August 21! The confidence-building event for the young men in our care will take place at 5pm at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club. If you would like to get involved, send an email to Vicki Valle at vicki@heartsandhomes.org.

We have received support and suits from a number of our board members, Alex Adler from HGA Financial in Howard County, Prince George’s County Clerk of Circuit Court Sydney Harrison, and many more. We are looking forward to a number of volunteers joining us for this special event including Clerk Sydney Harrison and City of Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe!

Let us know if you would like to get involved in this special event or be notified of other volunteer opportunities. Your time can change a young person’s life!

Announcing the Honorees…

Hearts & Homes events

We are excited to announce the Honorees who we will be recognizing this year at our annual HONORS 2015 gala at The Fillmore in Silver Spring on October 8th.  This year we will be conferring awards to Rob Chasteen-Scheer, Markita Bryant, Sergeant David Jenks, Alan Schulman, and a Hearts & Homes staff member.

Rob Chasteen-Scheer will receive the Rex Smith Legacy Award. Rob is the founder of Comfort Cases, an organization created to bring comfort to thousands of kids in the foster care system by providing them with suitcases full of basic necessities. Rob, a foster parent and former foster youth, has dedicated himself to the community and to making sure that foster youth receive something that comforts them, something of their own and they realize how important they are.

Miss Rhode Island United States Markita Bryant will receive the Avis Birely award, conferred in honor of Avis Birely who was a devoted advocate for Hearts & Homes for Youth and grand public servant in the community. For the past 3 years, Markita has made an effort on numerous occasions to build support for Hearts & Homes for Youth in the community and get other people involved in our organization. The most outstanding contribution from Markita has been at the Princess Party, where she encourages our young women to embrace and express themselves.

The CEO’s Volunteer Service Award will be given to Sergeant David Jenks of the U.S. Marines who has above and beyond to support Hearts & Homes for Youth and deserves to be recognized apart from his peers. Sergeant Jenks does not seek recognition but his example continuously delivers a powerful message that encourages others to take action. Sergeant Jenks has set an example for all of us by his consistent positive energy, leadership, and dedication to the community. We are humbled that in addition to serving our country, Sergeant Jenks has devoted his time to serving our community and specifically the youth in our care.

The Chairman’s Award will be conferred to board member Alan Schulman for his outstanding dedication and commitment to our agency and mission.  Alan Schulman has been exemplar of the dedication all organizations seek from their board members. For years, Alan has been tirelessly dedicated to drumming up support in the community for our events, activities for the youth, and general support for and understanding of our mission. His leadership, engagement, and oversight have contributed enormously to the success of our events. Alan is extraordinarily generous with his time, wisdom, and financial support while ensuring that the events remain committed to our mission and guiding values.

Click here for more information about HONORS 2015 gala!

Family Success Story: A note from a teen mom

Words from our youth

UntitledThe following is a note written to Hearts & Homes for Youth by one of the teen moms in our foster care program who wanted to share how much her foster mother means to her. This note warmed our hearts and made our day, we are so grateful for this amazing and incredible foster parent. She has truly opened her heart and home to this young mom. Get the tissues!

Good Evening,

This email is simply an email of gratitude, and appreciation. Since being with Hearts And Homes, I’ve never felt so welcomed. My daughter and I were placed in Ms. K’s home, and we haven’t looked back since. Ms. K welcomed me as her daughter and my child as her granddaughter, and we haven’t felt anything less since we established that we are a family. My mother supports me, she loves me, she cares for me as a mother should. But she allows me to make my mistakes, while never leaving my side. And she remains there when it’s time to fix them. She hasn’t missed one event, she’s helped me with college applications, scholarships, essays, cleanliness, money management, time management, and so much more I can’t name at the moment. she’s awarded me for every accomplishment. And even without the rewards, the support she gives is award enough.  I just want to remind you all that you have a beautiful, supportive, awesome, encouraging, Foster Mother in Ms. K. And I would not feel comfortable nor complete without telling you how much of a wonderful person she is. Thank you so much, MJ 😘

Click here to learn more about being a foster parent.

Honorable Sidney Harrison donates suits to Hearts & Homes

Thank you to our supporters

SidneyHarrisonPhotoOp1Mark Twain said “clothes make the man” and dressing well makes a big difference at a job interview and special events. However, men’s wear is often expensive, especially for young people first entering the workforce.

The Honorable Sidney Harrison, the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, gave back to the community today by donating a number of suits to Hearts & Homes for Youth for the young men and women in our care who have overcome adversity to wear to job interviews, special events, and the upcoming Kings of Style Party where Mr. Harrison will be a guest speaker!

Staff and a young man from one of our programs picked the suits at at the courthouse in Upper Marlboro this afternoon and had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Mr. Harrison.

Click here to read more about the Honorable Sidney Harrison

Mr. Harrison is a devoted public servant and is dedicated to helping young people. We are grateful to him for contributing to their success and development of our boys’ self esteem, self confidence, and sense of worth. 

Our kids have shiny shoes!

Hearts & Homes events

IMG_1572Thanks to an anonymous donor, we have over 100 black patent leather shoes for the young men in our care! Our boys are excited and proud to have these nice shoes for events and interviews!

If you are looking to donate, we are in need of the following items:

  • Art supplies
  • Baby formula
  • Educational items for babies
  • Bed bug proof mattress covers
  • Twin size mattresses
  • Dish sets
  • Twin size sheets
  • Towels
  • Pots
  • Pans
  • Cooking utensils
  • Baking pans
  • Oven mits
  • Books
  • Movie passes

If you have any of these items to donate or would like to hold a drive to collect these items for the youth in our care, please contact Caitlin Ward at cward@heartsandhomes.org